Mandëko Kito 2025 opens at Scout Hill

BAGUIO CITY — The Mandëko Kito 2025 Immersive Craft Fair opened on December 5 at Scout Hill, Camp John Hay, featuring traditional and contemporary handcrafted works by local artisans.

The fair runs until December 22, Fridays to Mondays, offering visitors hands-on arts and crafts workshops alongside curated exhibits.

Mandëko Kito, an Ibaloi phrase meaning “let us sell,” was first conceptualized in 2020 by the Baguio Arts and Crafts Collective, Inc. (BACCI) in partnership with the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB).

It was launched at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide sustainable opportunities for artisans whose livelihoods were disrupted.

Unlike conventional trade fairs, Mandëko Kito integrates curation, storytelling, and experiential learning, allowing the public not only to purchase locally made crafts but also to engage directly with makers and understand the cultural significance of their creations.

The initiative has since become a flagship project supporting artisan livelihoods and strengthening Baguio’s creative economy.

Proceeds from the fair are reinvested into capacity-building programs, start-up support, and initiatives for marginalized creative entrepreneurs. The project aligns with national and international frameworks on creative economy, heritage preservation, and inclusive development.

BACCI, established in 2017, is a consortium of artists, artisans, designers, and cultural workers.

It played a key role in positioning Baguio as the first UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts in the Philippines.

Guided by its mission to promote creativity and inclusive growth, BACCI continues to strengthen Cordillera’s cultural and creative communities through artisan support, craft innovation, and market development.